Monthly Archives: February 2015

NRMA Car Insurance research has revealed around 50 per cent of NSW drivers are getting an average of seven or less hours of sleep per night and more than one in three admitted to being tired at the wheel in the morning*.

A survey of 500 NSW drivers found that more than 70 per cent are staying up later than 10pm most nights with almost 60 per cent watching TV / DVDs and around a quarter surfing the internet.

Driving while sleep deprived, increases the risk of having a microsleep and losing control of your vehicle**.

NRMA Car Insurance spokesperson Sue Hawkins said its important all drivers are awake and alert before getting behind the wheel.

Our research showed that too many of us are driving while tired which means we are putting ourselves at higher risk of a collision.

We understand a lot of us lead busy lifestyles and want to squeeze in our favourite TV shows, movies or surf popular websites, however we recommend drivers get enough sleep per night so they are alert on the roads the next morning.

Our research also showed us that in addition to watching TV / DVDs and surfing the internet, people are catching up on housework and chores, talking or texting on the phone and around 10 per cent are socialising online.

NSW drivers should be reminded that lack of sleep can build up over a number of days and then result in you becoming fatigued while you are behind the wheel and put you at risk of a collision.

We want to urge all NSW drivers to be well rested before they get behind the wheel, she said.

NRMA Insurance offers some tips to drivers:

If you are feeling tired and need to get to a destination, catch a bus or train or arrange a lift with someone who is well rested;
Consider car pooling with a fellow colleague so you can share the drive to work;
Always make sure you are well rested before starting your trip.

More than 50 per cent of Queensland drivers are hitting the road each day with fewer than seven hours sleep under their belt and more than 40 per cent admit to being tired at the wheel most mornings, new NRMA Car Insurance research has found.

A survey of 500 Queensland drivers found nearly two thirds were staying up later than 10pm most nights. More than 55 per cent said they were glued to television shows or DVDs late at night while others reported they were:

surfing the net (25 per cent)
on social networking sites, such as Facebook or Twitter (10 per cent)
catching up on housework or chores (9 per cent)
talking on the phone or texting (1 per cent).

NRMA Car Insurance spokesperson Sue Hawkins said driving while sleep deprived increased stress levels and the risk of losing focus at the wheel or having a microsleep, where the driver actually nodded off.

Too many of us are driving while tired each day which means were increasing our chances of having a collision, she said.

A lot of us lead busy lives so it makes sense were trying to make the most of our waking hours, but we need to make sure we get enough sleep each night so were alert on the road the next morning.

We also need to be aware that lack of sleep can build up over a number of days, making it harder to concentrate on the road. We should all be making sure were well rested before we get behind the wheel.

NRMA Insurance offers the following tips to drivers:

avoid driving while tired – take public transport or a taxi or get a lift with someone who is well rested;
consider car pooling with a colleague so you can share the drive to work;
try and avoid staying up regularly past 10 pm to give yourself the best chance of being well rested each day.

*Based on survey of 2500 Australian households by Pure Profile Research for NRMA Insurance, July 2010